Underwater mower



April 28, 1964 A. WOLESLAGLE UNDERWATER MOWER Filed Nov. 4, 1965 E mw wW a mwmw .Am

3,13%,531 Patented Apr. 28, 1964 3,139,531 WDERWATER MGWER ArnoldWoleslagle, Morris Road, Geneseo, NX. Filed Nov. 4, 1%3, Ser. No.321,631 7 Claixns. (Cl. 56-3) This invention relates to mowing apparatusand particularly to apparatus for underwater operation in mowing weedsand other underwater growth which presents a very common problem insmall boat operations.

The present invention provides mowing apparatus which may be quickly andeasily attached to a conventional outboard motor in place of the usualpropeller for mowing, generally at a depth somewhat below the normaldepth of operation of the propeller.

Since the present mowing apparatus is by its nature an accessor]intended normally for occasional use as needed to clear underwatervegetation, the ability to assemble the mowing attachment with the driveportion of a conventional outboard motor with ease and facility andwithout any substantial disruption of the outboard motor apparatus is aprime requisite.

The economic advantage of providing a simple mowing attachment whichutilizes the power plant of a conventional outboard motor is obvioussince the cost of such a motor and the general mounting structuretherefor is considerable and comprises a major portion of the cost ofthe usual and complete outboard motor installation.

According to the present invention, a drive casing is provided whichincludes a bevel gear drive mechanism at its upper end, a dependingdrive shaft extending therefrom, and a rotary mower blade at the lowerend of the drive shaft. In applying this apparatus to a conventionaloutboard motor unit it is merely necessary to remove the usual propellerfrom its propeller shaft, assemble the present apparatus by placing thesame with one of its bevel gears on the propeller shaft in place of theusual propeller and securing the same, then fixing the mowing apparatuscasing with respect to adjacent portions of the outboard motor casing.

In the prior art it has been proposed to utilize the drive meansafiorded by an outboard motor for Operating an underwater mower but suchproposals have been impractical and virtually unusable on aninterchangeable basis because of the elaborate mechanical alterationsrequired in adapting the outboard motor for use with the mowingapparatus and in applying such mowing apparatus to the outboard motormechanism.

Outboard motors normally include as a substantial element thereof aVertical drive shaft which extends from the power plant in the upper endof the apparatus to a generally horizontal propeller shaft at the lowerend. In the prior art it has been proposed to remove this lowerhorizontal propeller shaft and the bevel gear mechanism normallyprovided for connecting between the aforesaid vertical drive shaft andthe propeller shaft.

In this prior art proposal it is contemplated that an extension be thenaixed directly to the lower end of the depending shaft. This proposedconstruction overlooks the fact that outboard motor housings are veryoften unitary and integral and accordingly do not admit of removal ofthe lower portions thereof.

In some outboard motor housings the lower portions are bolted to themain Vertical housing portions and thus removal is possible. However, insuch constructions the removable lower portions, which include the bevelgear mechanism connecting between the vertically depending drive shaftand the propeller shaft, contain gear oil or other lubricant and thusremoval of such lower housing portion, where possible, requires removingthe outboard motor apparatus from a boat to a shop or work bench orother place where the necessary major disassembly of the lower portionof the outboard motor apparatus may be accomplished.

In Contrast with this prior art arrangement, the underwater mower of thepresent invention may readily be applied to a conventional outboardmotor apparatus without removing the latter from the boat, withoutentering the internal mechanism, and by a simple transition whichrequires the use of no special tools or special mechanical ability orknowledge of outboard motors or machinery generally.

While a single specific embodment of the principles of the presentinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and described indetail in the following specification, it is to be understood that suchembodiment is set forth by way of example only and to illustrate theprinciples of the present invention, the scope of which is not limitedto this embodiment nor otherwise than as defined in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one form of the underwater mower ofthe present invention shown applied to the lower portion of aconventional outboard motor;

PIG. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1 with portions shown incross section;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the mower apparatus of FIG. 1 shownattached to an outboard motor housing; and

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view on the line IV-IV of FIG. 1.

Like characters of reference denote like parts in the several figures ofthe drawing and, referring particularly to FIG. 1, the numeral 11)designates a lower housing portion of a conventional outboard motor suchas is commonly employed in the propulsion of small boats. As is wellknown, the lower housing portion contains a depending drive shaft 11, ahorizontal propeller shaft 12, and bevel gears 13 and 14 for driving thepropeller shaft 12 from the drive shaft 11, all of which is indicated inFIG. 2.

The rearwardly extending portion of propeller shaft 12 normally has apropeller detachably secured thereto, the same having been removed inthe apparatus shown in the drawing for the Purpose of associating thepresent underwater mowing apparatus with the remainder of the outboardmotor mechanism. In FIGS. 1 and 2 the numeral 15 designates the usualshroud portion of the outboard motor mechanism housing which normallyoverlies the propeller.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 the numeral 18 designates a main housing and supportmember for the apparatus of the present invention, the same comprisingan upper chamber portion 19 and a depending column portion 20. Agenerally Vertical shaft 21 is supported for free rotation in the upperand lower ends of column 20 by anti-friction bearings 22 and 23. A bevelpinion 25 is fixed to the upper end of shaft 21 and a Companion bevelgear 26 is mounted in a wall portion of housing 18 by means of ananti-friction bearing 28. In FIG. 2 the numeral 29 designates a collarfor retaining the bevel gear in assembled relation in the wall ofhousing 18.

At its lower end shaft 21 has secured thereto a mower blade 31 whichcomprises a pair of radiating blade portions. A guard for blade 31comprises a pair of arms 33 which are fixed to flanges 34 on housing 18and a shoe member comprising an angle iron 35 fixed at its opposite endsto arms 33 and curved to extend beneath the mower blade 31.

The arrangement is such that the mowing attachment of the presentinvention is mounted in driven relationship With respect tothe propellershaft of the outboard motor and is supported primar'ily by suchpropeller shaft, whereby a proper positional driVing relationship isautomatically assured and an extremely sirnple and effective drivingengagement is achieved. However, means are preferably provided forpreventing turning of the mower assembly on the propeller shaft.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, upper and lower pairs of arms 37 and 38extend longitudinally from housing 13 and embrace the outboard motorhousing 10, being readily clamped thereto by bolts 39. Various adaptorsmay be provided so that housing 18 may be fixed with respect to outboardmotor housings of various configurations.

In converting an outboard motor for underwater mowing by use of thepresent apparatus the usual propeller retaining nut 40 is remoVed, thepropeller is removed from the propeller shaft 12, bevel pinion 26 isslipped onto propeller shaft 12 together with a spacing or adaptercollar 41, nut 40 is replaced, and a cover member 42 of housing 18 issecured to the rear open wall of the housing by screws 43. The apparatusis now ready for underwater power mowing in an obvious manner.

I claim:

1. An underwater mower for attachment to and operation by an outboardmotor propeller shaft, said mower comprising a housing and a generallyVertical mower shaft rotatably supported therein, a bevel pinionsupported for rotation on a generally horizontal axis in the upperportion of said housing, an opening in the front wall of said housingwhereby said mower may be supported from said propeller shaft byassembly of said pinion thereon, means for detachably retaining saidbevel pinion on said propeller shaft for rotation therewith, a matingbevel pinion fixed to the upper end of said mower shaft, horizontallydisposed rotary mower blade means fixed to the lower end of said mowershaft, and releasable means engaging between said mower housing and saidoutboard motor to prevent rotation of the former with respect to thelatter When said first pinion is assembled for rotation with saidpropeller shaft.

2. An underwater mower for attachment to and operation by an outboardmotor propeller shaft, said mower comprising a housing and a generallyVertical mower shaft rotatably supported therein, a bevel pinion havinga bore portion, means for supporting said pinion for rotation on agenerally horizontal axis in the upper portion of said housingindependently of said bore portion, an opening in the front wall of saidhousing exposing said bore portion whereby said mower may be supportedfrom said propeller shaft by disposing said bore portion of said pinionon said shaft, means for detachably retaining said bevel pinion on saidpropeller shaft for rotation therewith, a mating bevel pinion fixed tothe upper end of said mower shaft, and horizontally disposed rotarymower blade means fixed to the lower end of said mower shaft.

3. An underwater mower for attachment to and operation by an outboardmotor propeller shaft, said mower comprising a housing and a generallyVertical mower shaft rotatably supported therein, a bevel pinionsupported for rotation on a generally horizontally axis by said housingadjacent to a wall thereof, an opening in said wall whereby the bore ofsaid bevel pinion is accessible from the exterior of said housing andsaid mower may be supported from said propeller shaft by assembly ofsaid pinion thereon, means for detachably retaining said bevel pinion onsaid propeller shaft for rotation therewith, a mating bevel pinion fixedto the upper end of said mower shaft, horizontally disposed rotary mowerblade means fixed to the lower end of said mower shaft, and releasablemeans engaging between said mower housing and said outboard motor toprevent rotation of the former with respect to the latter when saidfirst pinion is assembled for rotation with said propeller shaft.

4. An underwater mower for attachment to and operation by an outboardmotor propeller shaft, said mower comprising a housing and a generallyVertical mower shaft rotatably supported therein, a bevel pinion havinga bore portion, means for supporting said pinion for rotation on agenerally horizontal axis by said housing adjacent to a wall thereofindependently of said bore portion, an opening in said wall exposingsaid bore portion whereby said mower may be supported from saidpropeller shaft by disposing said bore portion of said pinion thereon,means for detachably retaining said bevel pinion on said propeller shaftfor rotation therewith, a mating bevel pinion fixed to the upper end ofsaid mower shaft, and horizontally disposed rotary mower blade meansfixed to the lower end of said mower shaft.

5. An underwater mower for attachment to and operation by an outboardmotor propeller shaft, said mower comprising a housing and a generallyVertical mower shaft rotatably supported therein, a bevel pinionsupported for rotation on a generally horizontal axis by said housingadjacent to a wall thereof, an opening in said wall whereby the bore ofsaid bevel pinion is accessible from the exterior of said housing andsaid mower may bsupported from said propeller shaft by assembly of saidpinion thereon, means for detachably retaining said bevel pinion on saidpropeller shaft for rotation therewith, a mating bevel pinion fixed tothe upper end of said mower shaft, and horizontally disposed rotarymower blade means fixed to the lower end of said mower shaft, releasablemeans engaging between said mower housing and said outboard motor toprevent lotation of the former with respect to the latter when saidfirst pinion is assembled for rotation with said propeller shaft, andguard means for said mower blade means comprising a loop member disposedin a Vertical fore andV aft plane to extend about said mower blademeans, said guard means being secured at its upper central portion tothe lower portion of said mower housing.

6. An underwater mower for attachment to and operation by an outboardmotor propeller shaft, said mower comprising a housing and a generallyVertical mower' shaft rotatably supported therein, a bevel pinionsupported for rotation on a generally horizontal axis in the upperportion of said housing, an opening in the front wallof said housingwhereby said mower may be supported from said propeller shaft byassembly of said pinion thereon, means for detachably retaining saidbevel pinion on said propeller shaft for rotation therewith, a matingbevel pinion fixed to the upper end of said mower shaft, andhorizontally disposed rotary mower blade means fixed to the lower end ofsaid mower shaft, releasable means engaging between said mower housingand said outboard motor to prevent rotation of the former with respectto the latter when said first pinion is assembled for rotation With saidpropeller shaft, and guard means for said mower blade means comprising aloop member disposed in a Vertical fore and aft plane to eX- tend aboutsaid mower blade means, said guard meansVV being secured at its uppercentral portion to the lower portion of said mower housing.

7. An underwater mower for attachment to and operation by an outboardmotor propeller shaft, said mower comprising a housing and a generallyVertical mower shaft rotatably supported therein, a bevel pin-ionsupported for rotation on a generally horizontal axis in the upperportion of said housing, an opening in the front wall of said housingwhereby said mower may be supported from said propeller shaft byassembly of said pinion thereon, means for detachably retaining saidbevel pinion on said propeller shaft for rotation therewith, a matingbevel pinion fixed to the upper end of said mower shaft, andhorizontally disposed rotary mower blade means fixed to the lower end ofsaid mower shaft, and

6 guard means for said mower blade means comprisng a References Cited inthe file of this patent loop member disposed in a Vertical fore and aftplane UNITED STATES PATENTS to extend about said mower blade means saidguard 2,677,926 Washbourne et al. May 11, 1954 means bemg secured at ltsupper central portlon to the 2739 435 Wiser Mar. 27, 1956 lower portionof said mower housing. 5 3 085 543 Falkner Apr 16 1963

1. AN UNDERWATER MOWER FOR ATTACHMENT TO AND OPERATION BY AN OUTBOARDMOTOR PROPELLER SHAFT, SAID MOWER COMPRISING A HOUSING AND A GENERALLYVERTICAL MOWER SHAFT ROTATABLY SUPPORTED THEREIN, A BEVEL PINIONSUPPORTED FOR ROTATION ON A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL AXIS IN THE UPPERPORTION OF SAID HOUSING, AN OPENING IN THE FRONT WALL OF SAID HOUSINGWHEREBY SAID MOWER MAY BE SUPPORTED FROM SAID PROPELLER SHAFT BYASSEMBLY OF SAID PINION THEREON, MEANS FOR DETACHABLY RETAINING SAIDBEVEL PINION ON SAID PROPELLER SHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, A MATINGBEVEL PINION FIXED TO THE UPPER END OF SAID MOWER SHAFT, HORIZONTALLYDISPOSED ROTARY MOWER BLADE MEANS FIXED TO THE LOWER END OF SAID MOWERSHAFT, AND RELEASABLE MEANS ENGAGING BETWEEN SAID MOWER HOUSING AND SAIDOUTBOARD MOTOR TO PREVENT ROTATION OF THE FORMER WITH RESPECT TO THELATTER WHEN SAID FIRST PINION IS ASSEMBLED FOR ROTATION WITH SAIDPROPELLER SHAFT.